Improvement in washing-machines



'2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. STUMM. Washing-Machines.

2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

T. STUMM;l Washing-Machines.

No. 4207,457. Patented Aug. 27,1878.l

INVE TUB:

NA PETERS, PHOTO-LIHOGRAPHER. WASHINGYDN. D c.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OEEIoE.

THOMAS STUMM, OF ADA, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,41 57, dated August27, 1878; application filed June 6, 1878.

To all 'whom z't may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS STUMM, of Ada,in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Washing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved machine, taken through theline a: fr, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, the cover beingshown as turned back. Fig. 3 is a detail under-side view of therubbing-board, the pressure-board, and the perforated apron. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sectional view, representing the position of the parts whenthe machine is used for wringing or squeezing the water from theclothes.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in that class ofwashing-machines covered by Letters Patent granted to me May 5, 1874,No. 150,494, and February 16, 1875, No. 159,855.

The invention consists in the construction and combination ot' parts,which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then set forth inthe claims.

A represents the frame of the machine, to which are attached the ends ofthe suds-box B. The suds-box B is made wit-h vertical ends and sides,and with a semi-cylindrical bottom, made of zinc. C are metal straps,which are attached at one end to the top edges of one end of the ends ofthe suds-box B. The straps 0 pass across the end parts of the sideboards of the suds-box B, along the side edges of the bottom, and havebolts c1 formed upon or attached to their other ends, which pass upthrough holes in the projecting ends of the plates c2, attached to theupper edge of the other ends of the end boards of the said sudsboX B,and have nuts c3 screwed upon their upper ends.

By this construction the straps C hold the metallic bottom of thesuds-box B in place, hold the parts of its end boards together when theyare made of several pieces, and enable any shrinkage to be taken up.

D is the cover, which is made in two parts, hinged to each other attheir adjacent edges. The outer edge of one of the parts of the cover Dis hinged to the top edge of a side board of the suds-box B.

With this construction a part of the cover D may be turned back to giveaccess to the interior of the suds-box B; or the whole cover may beturned back, as shown in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in whichcase the cover serves as a table, for convenience in putting in andtaking out the clothes.

In notches in the middle part of the upper edges of the ends of thesuds-box B work short shafts E, to the outer ends of which are rigidlyattached the ends of two levers, F. To the outer ends of the levers Fare attached the ends of a cross-bar or round, G, which serves as ahandle for operating the machine. To the inner ends of the short shaftsor pivots E are rigidly attached the ends of two arms, H, the other endsof which are attached to the end parts of the pressure-board I. Thepressure-board I has a number of slots or holes formed through it toallow the suds to pass through freely. To the upper edge of thepressure-board I is attached the inner edge of the rubbing-board J,which is strengthened in position by braces or ribs K, attached to itslower side and to. the pressure-board I or arms H. To the lower edge ofthe pressureboard I is attached the edge of the curved apron L, whichhas numerous holes formed through it to allow the water to pass throughfreely. The apron L is strengthened in position by bars IVI, attached toits lower side. The bars M are provided with rack-pins or teeth m, toengage with the teeth'of the gearwheels N, attached to the shaft O. Theshaft O revolves in bearings in the end parts of the ends of thesuds-box B, and to one of its ends is attached a crank, P, which is madedouble, to enable the operator to apply more power to it. To the shaft Ois attached a ratchetwheel, Q, with the teeth of which engages the pawlIt, pivoted to the end board of the suds-box B.

S is the center-board, against which the clothes are pressed by thepressure-board I. To the end parts of the center-board S are rigidlyattached the lower ends of two arms, T, the upper parts of which areslightly curved, and are slotted lon gitudinally to receive the innerends ot the short shafts E. The

center-board S, when used for washing the clothes, is placed in such aposition that the pressure-board I will rest squarely against it whenthey are brought together. Vhcn the center-board S is in position foruse in washing clothes the upper edges of its ends rest against thelower side of the blocks U, attached to the inner sides of the ends ofthe suds-boXB, to prevent it from being raised by the pressure of theclothes. To the centerboard S, or to strengthening-bars attached to saidboard S, are pivoted the lower ends of two bars, V, the upper ends ofwhich are bent back to enter holes in the side of the crossbar W. Theends of the cross-bar W are rigidly attached to the end boards of thesudsbox B. To the end parts of the pivoted bars V is attached across-bar, X, in such a position as to rest against the lower edge ofthe cross-bar W when the bent or hook ends of the said bars V are in theholes in the forward side of the said cross-bar W, so as to support theswinging center-board S against the backward pressure when washin gclothes.

When the machine is used for washing clot-hes, the handle G is raisedand the clothes are placed upon the perforated apron L, between thepressure-board I and the centerboard S. Then by operating the handle Gthe clothes will be alternately pressed between I the pressure-board Iand the center-board S,

and allowed to be again saturated with water, so that they will be madeclean in a very short time. 4

When the clothes have been washed clean the cross-bar X and the pivotedbars V are swung back from the bar NV, upon the pivots of the said barsV, until the said bars V rest upon the center-board S. The handle Gr isth en lowered, which carries the pressure-board I and the curvedperforated apron L and the center-board S forward and upward until therack-bars M m come into gear with the gear-wheels N. The gear-wheels Nare then operated by turning the double crank P, to carry the curvedperforated apron, the pressure-board I, and the center-board S out ofand above the water in the suds-boX, and until stopped by the saidcenter-board S striking against the lower edge of the cross-bar W. Thisstops the upward movement of the curved perforated apron L, thepressure-board I, and the center-board S, and as the double crank isfurther operated the clothes are squeezed between the center-board S andthe pressure-board I.

Vhen the clothes have been made sufficiently dry, the double crank l) iseased a little, the center-board S is drawn out and swung back, and theclothes are taken out, and are ready to be hung upon the line.

Ilavin g thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the center-board S,slotted arms T, pivoted armsV, and cross-barX with the shaft-s E,oscillating apron L, pressure-board I, and the suds-box having thetransverse bar \V, as and for the ,purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the transverse shaft O, spur-wheels N, and therack-bars M m with the oscillating apron L, pressure-board I, movablecenter-board S, and the cross-bar lV of the suds-boX, as and for thepurpose set forth.

THOMAS STUMM.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL WATT, J r., ALvAn T. GARDNER.

